Essential elements for studying religion in Social Studies

Studying about Religions

Three Essential Understandings
1. Religions are diverse (many different types)

- Externally (different from other religions)

- Internally (different from other forms of their own- ex. There are thousands of Christian denominations)

2. Religions are dynamic (change over time)

3. Religions are embedded in culture (unique to the time, place, and culture in which they reside)

Religion Vocab

Monotheistic
- religious traditions that believe in one God

Polytheistic
- religious traditions that believe in multiple Gods

Atheistic
- traditions that believe there is no God

Agnostic
- traditions that believe it is unable to know if there is a God

Monism
-Philosophy that believes all varieties in the universe are parts of one whole reality.

Dualism
- Philosophy that recognizes two essences of reality
- examples: right and wrong, Yin and Yang, Body and Spirit, Heaven and Earth.

Syncretism
-Blending of religions/cultures into new forms over time.